England pay penalty for Rooney's red

At the end, the tortured, cursed end, those who'd hounded the manager and the captain all the way up to the final chapter of a story that was never a fairytale got what many of them had predicted: a cruel yet predictable exit after another campaign of under-achievement.

England should have got past Portugal - even with 10 men. Luiz Felipe Scolari's unbeaten run in World Cup matches is extended to a dozen - not to mention his supposed jinx over Sven Goran Eriksson and England in major championships - but the winners here will be extraordinarily lucky to advance past the semi-finals.

Had England played to anywhere near their potential, had they not lost Wayne Rooney to a red card after 61 minutes, they might have punished the outrageous profligacy of a Portugal team stripped not only of their influential playmakers Costinha and Deco, but a sense of decency and, more pertinently, any notion of adventure.

Eriksson is gone now after five years, mustering as much dignity as he could in defeat. Goaded beforehand that he should find a Churchillian moment to inspire the team - entirely at odds with his nature - he must have smiled inwardly when his team were praised in those terms afterwards.

'Yes, you say it was a Churchill performance,' he agreed, 'but we're out of the tournament and that is very painful.'

David Beckham, in whom the manager kept perhaps an inordinate amount of faith, eschewing more adventurous options, will surely follow Eriksson out of the England set-up, despite protestations beforehand that he wanted to extend his international career.

He was in tears in the dugout, his right foot swollen after being hobbled by Nuno Valente. Eriksson sat quietly nearby, as he always did. At the break in extra time both men, in a cocoon of impotence, moved among the exhausted players, cajoling in hushed rather than emotional tones. Some listened. Some didn't. Those are wickedly stark images.

But the lingering, dispiriting scene of the afternoon was, surely, that of Rooney walking from the field on the hour, a red card waved above his petulant head after an ill-advised entanglement with the most delicate part of Ricardo Carvalho's anatomy. Whether there was intent is impossible to say. It looked, without prejudice, a moment of unstructured argy-bargy. And the Chelsea man made the most of it.

Eriksson's views later weren't soothing to Rooney's ears. 'I don't think we can complain about the red card, although there were two Portugal players hanging off him and the referee could have blown up for a free kick. But he was right on the spot and he saw what happened. That was one of the things that cost us.

'We have practised [penalties] so much I don't think we could possibly practise them any more.'

Rooney ought to be mad with himself. He had done splendidly in his comeback seeing off the niggardly wind-ups. Now he had blown it. After so long in the wings, then gradually recovering some of his form, he was reduced to a frustrated spectator alongside his captain. At every turn, from the early part of the second half right up until the final penalty, this was a match lacquered in similar frustrations.

The nation will focus on the end, of course - extra time followed by penalties in which Frank Lampard's twenty-fifth fruitless shot of the World Cup went before those from the spot of Steve Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, gifting Portugal a win they hardly worked for with any artistry.

But leaving the World Cup at the quarter-finals on penalties - again - was not the whole story. England will wake up this morning physically and mentally drained; maybe in a day or so they will feel slightly better about themselves.

They were not great. But they were better than they had been, which might not be saying a lot - and they were brave. Undoubtedly they had courage in difficult circumstances and heat of 29 degrees under the tented roof.

England started brightly and had the best of the first half. Rooney looked sharp, if not entirely happy with his back to goal, Terry was his masterful self again, Gerrard got forward, left and right, and Hargreaves ran his legs off.

All in all, the 30,000 England supporters of the estimated 80,000 who had swelled the clogged streets of Gelsenkirchen had enough to keep them happy.

Portugal migth be creaking a little, but they are still dangerous, none more so than 33-year-old Figo. He still sparkles, if a little more slowly. More than once, he had Robinson stretched. As did Ronaldo, who passed a fitness test on his thigh and did not look inconvienced.

Of England's tournament casualties, Gary Neville was a reassuring presence after three games out. It is easy to forget the simple things he does well, like knowing who is bearing down on him in a tight spot, and clearing instantly, rather than dallying. However, he almost contributed one of those rare but unfortunate big-game gaffes of his when Figo's cross bounced off him and into Tiago's path - then bobbled fortuitously into Paul Robinson's hands.

Robinson was unusually nervy in the second half, as England chased the game, leaving space at the back. There were moments: Gerrard, finally free of his marker, slid a delicious pass into the rushing feet of Lampard, who couldn't quite reach it.

Maniche should have been booked for an atrocious piece of acting, 'felled' ever so gently by brushing up against Ferdinand.

Underneath, there was a simmering tension. All week the media of both nations had sniped at each other. A referee whose decisions did not comply, certainly, with English supporters' views hardly helped.

And there is hope. Who would have thought, for instance, that England supporters would be singing at the end for the man Eriksson so staunchly stuck by? 'There's only one Owen Hargreaves'

Certainly not Owen Hargreaves. But what a game he had. He ran, he tackled, he was up, he was back. If there'd been a lady's chamber, he'd have been there too.

It was a match dripping in acrimony, disappointment and what might have been. John Terry, in his most convincing display of the tournament, was booked and would have missed the semi-final. And Beckham's replacement, Aaron Lennon, was a revelation and an inspiration in the fading stages. How he could have changed things given more opportunities.

Inevitably, it went to extra time (so inept were Portugal, even against exhausted England). In that period, Peter Crouch came close (yet, for all his endeavour, lacked the necessary finesse at the killer moment), Lennon made several dazzling incursions and ought to have won a penalty when brought down by Nuno Valente. Hargreaves, who'd laboured so stoically, was booked for dissent, and Terry, cramping up at the end, advanced when he could from deep. Postiga headed in - but was offside. And England were hanging on for the torture that has been their undoing too many times: penalties.

Made one vital save with 10 minutes remaining in normal time. Had been shaky in past two games and tendency to kick long seemed to be absent until he skied one early in second half. But is he a little slow coming off his line for crosses and sweeping up behind his defence?

RB Gary Neville6

First match since opener against Paraguay for Manchester United captain. Generally calm despite having to deal with Ronaldo. Began by dropping his club-mate, but was then turned inside out after 20 minutes and on too many occasions in first half left his flank isolated when trying to support Beckham. Experience became valuable as game wore on.

CB John Terry6

'Oh, ref!' was his reaction to the booking that had followed what appeared a genuine clash of heads with Tiago. Classy and composed all afternoon. A series of chested passes were evidence of smart technical ability and football brain. Left distraught by the final result.

CB Rio Ferdinand7

Languid style may be attractive, but was nearest player to Tiago when Figo's 12th-minute free-kick rebounded off Gary Neville and was too slow with reaction. Had a word with Maniche when he went down under a phantom punch after the break, but was generally untroubled. Great foraging run near the end of normal time.

LB Ashley Cole6

Was sharp on occasion of his 51st cap and 10th World Cup appearance, considering most of last season passed him by through injury. An early tackle on Figo announced intent. Then drew foul from Petit after six minutes to set up first dangerous position. Linked well with namesake Joe down the left, though did wander into trouble at times.

DM Owen Hargreaves7

Was marginally England's player of the game with energy and hunger to annoy and harry, having reverted to his best position. Was lucky not to get booked when he dropped Ronaldo. Forced first England corner just before half time and linked well at times with Lampard, Gerrard and Beckham. When Rooney departed, he continued to drive forward.

CM Steven Gerrard7

Ahead of the game, was the most honest about England needing to improve and did take advantage of Hargreaves' presence to get forward more. With Rooney alone before sending-off, had to offer support. When England were down to 10 men was still playing advanced and created a great chance for Crouch in extra time.

CM Frank Lampard6

What's happened to Frank? The fluffed volley from Gerrard's early second-half corner, which offered him a clear shot but was dug into the turf, summed up his tournament. Although his passing was errant, the midfielder still made some intelligent runs. His first contribution was a pass into air and out, though Gary Neville did not anticipate.

RM David Beckham5

Was chatting happily with opposite number Figo before teams came out, but ended his afternoon weeping following the injury that removed him. Had been largely anonymous. Eriksson's man on the pitch through his five-year reign owed his head coach more and when Lennon came on the feeling was the side's chances improved.

LM Joe Cole6

Was the sacrifice when Crouch came on in re-jig following Rooney's red card. The Chelsea man had linked smoothly with namesake early on, but the opening 15 minutes largely passed him by. Had his step-overs out good and early and was an annoying factor for right-back Miguel before he fooled Petit and got the Benfica midfielder booked.

CF Wayne Rooney3

If Horacio Elizondo saw the boot the Manchester United player dug into Ricardo Carvalho's nether region then he had no choice but to send the Manchester United striker off. Had been fiery and committed, but lacked support in first half. Offered some industrial Scouse to referee's assistant. Still has never scored in World Cup finals.

On the bench

Aaron Lennon (for Beckham 51) 7 Portugal probably would have preferred Beckham to stay on, as Lennon was a real contender for man of match. Created the best chance of the first 60 minutes when he cut in, only for Rooney to air-shoot and Joe Cole to spoon over.

Peter Crouch (for Cole 65) 5 Came on in difficult circumstances, but carried possession well and played one raking ball to the tireless Hargreaves late on in the 90 minutes.

Jamie Carragher (for Lennon 118) Had nasty task of having to retake successful penalty that was saved.

Ran and ran and ran some more, even late in the second half when others around him were wilting. All-action performance which won over the England fans, most of whom were singing his praises loudly 10 minutes before the final whistle. Brave enough to take a penalty and was the only England player to score.